How to use a Makita combi drill
Updated: 2026-10-23
The drill is on the bench, the collar is a ring of numbers, and the first job is a hinge screw in a kitchen cabinet, not a hole in a wall. On the DHP487 the speeds cell says 20, which makes the ring look like twenty gears. It is not. This is how to use a Makita combi drill for a screw, a clean hole and a short plug hole. The [Makita drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/makita-drill) is where the four cartons differ. This page does not rank them. Products Compared has not filmed your model, and a qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The drill is on the bench, the collar is a ring of numbers, and the first job is a hinge screw in a kitchen cabinet, not a hole in a wall.
The drill is on the bench, the collar is a ring of numbers, and the first job is a hinge screw in a kitchen cabinet, not a hole in a wall. On the DHP487 the speeds cell says 20, which makes the ring look like twenty gears. It is not. This is how to use a Makita combi drill for a screw, a clean hole and a short plug hole. The Makita drill comparison is where the four cartons differ. This page does not rank them. Products Compared has not filmed your model, and a qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Gears on the listing | Hammer drilling | Chuck | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Makita DHP487Z brushless body | 2 gears; speeds cell prints 20 | Yes | 13 mm keyless | 9.4 | about £86 | View offer |
| Best value |  Makita DK18015X2 twin pack | Not stated | Yes, on the combi | Not stated | 9.4 | about £182.50 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Makita DHP482 with 100-piece set | 2 speeds | Not stated | 12.7 mm | 8.8 | about £97 | View offer |
On this page
What the ring and the slider do
The ring around the chuck is a clutch, not a speed dial. On the DHP487 the bullets say 20 torque settings plus drill mode, and two mechanical gears. The speeds cell that prints 20 is the clash. A low number lets the clutch slip early. The drill symbol locks the clutch out so the chuck keeps turning for a hole. The Bloke Cave's account of a Makita collar matches that split: the numbers are torque, and hammer is a separate position for masonry. Bands such as 3 to 6 or 8 to 14 are not printed on the DHP487 or the DHP482 listing.
If the tool in your hand is the TD127D from either twin pack, treat it as a different machine. It is a hex impact driver. It does not have this clutch collar, and it does not take a round-shank masonry bit. The combi in that box is the tool this page is about.
Screws, then a clean hole
Start a screw in driver mode, on a clutch number, in gear 1. Seat the bit, hold the drill in line with the screw, and squeeze until the clutch clicks. That click is the clutch doing its job. If the screw is proud, step one number higher. If the head spins in the timber, step down. A hinge screw in softwood is the example: a low setting stops before the hinge cups into the door.
The DHP487 chuck is a single-sleeve keyless chuck. Reviews say one chuck jammed past finger pressure, and one set of plastic chuck gears stripped on first use. Tighten by hand until the bit stops slipping. If it will not release, stop. Let the chuck stop before you move the gear slider.
Hammer only for masonry
Hammer mode is the last collar position, and only with a carbide masonry bit. The mechanism is a ratchet behind the chuck, not an SDS piston. Match the bit to the plug. A 6 mm plug wants a 6 mm hole. The DHP487 listing states 13 mm in masonry. Keep the drill square and pull the bit out to clear dust.
If the bit stalls, release the trigger, clear the dust, and try once more. If it stalls again, the wall is harder than this mechanism. The Makita combi drill or SDS page is the decision that follows. One DHP487 review describes a mode selector that stuck on hammer. If the collar will not leave hammer, stop. Drilling timber in hammer mode destroys the bit.
When to put the drill down
At home, a few plug holes are not an employer assessment. At work, PUWER 1998 requires a suitable tool and a trained user. The vibration action value is 2.5 m/s² A(8) and the limit is 5 m/s² A(8). Makita UK declares the DHP487 at 10.5 m/s² in concrete and 1.3 m/s² in metal, with a K of 1.5. Noise on that sheet is 86 dB(A) pressure and 94 dB(A) power, against action values of 80 and 85 dB(A). Chargers need a BS 1363 plug: DC18RC class for LXT, DC18WA for G-series.
Common questions
What does the number 20 on the DHP487 mean?
The bullets say 20 torque settings plus drill mode, and two mechanical gears. The speeds cell that prints 20 is the listing clash, not a twenty-speed gearbox. Use the numbers as a clutch. Start low for a screw and step up if the clutch clicks before the screw is home. Use the drill symbol when you want a hole.
Which collar position drives screws?
A numbered clutch setting, in gear 1, with the drill in line with the screw. The click means you should release the trigger. Drill mode locks that protection out, so it is the wrong position for a hinge screw or a cupboard handle. Hammer mode is wrong for screws as well. If the click comes too early, move one number higher rather than forcing drill mode.
When is hammer mode the right collar?
When the bit is a carbide masonry bit and the hole is a plug hole within the diameter the listing states. On the DHP487 that stated diameter is 13 mm. Hammer mode is the wrong collar for timber, for steel, and for a stalled bit.
Why does the clutch click?
The clutch is slipping on purpose so the screw stops before the torque rises further. It is the sound you want at the end of a screw in driver mode. It is not a broken gear.
Can you change gear while the chuck is spinning?
No. Let the chuck stop, then move the slider. Gear 1 is the slow gear for screws and large bits. Gear 2 is the fast gear for small bits. A change while the chuck is turning asks the gearbox to mesh under load.
What should you do if the bit stalls in hammer mode?
Release the trigger, pull the bit out, and clear the dust. Try once more with a sharp bit and a square drill. If it stalls again, stop. More pressure will not turn a ratchet hammer into an SDS. A mode selector that will not leave hammer, which one DHP487 review reported, is a fault.
Related pages
Sources
Sources for this comparison, last checked on 22 October 2026.
- Makita UK DHP487 product page (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Makita UK DHP482 technical PDF (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Makita UK warranty (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Part Shop Direct BL1813G battery (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE vibration in construction (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE noise for employers (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE CIS36, control of silica dust (retrieved 22 October 2026)